Our Team

Tim is a licensed school psychologist that provides expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Tim collaborates with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for students.

Tim was an intern at Lakota last year and was hired shortly after completing his Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) from the University of Dayton. He is excited to begin his new journey!

Caitlin Huxel provides teachers with professional development and coaching related to Lakota’s initiatives on innovation and personalized learning. Caitlin also supports curriculum and instructional design and delivery, and the evolution of spaces such as the Innovation Hub to transform the learning experience for students. 
 
Caitlin collaborates regularly with other Lakota Innovation Specialists and with curriculum and technology departments to impact the K-12 learning experience for students.

Dawn Roth works with parents, students, and staff to ensure the VanGorden office runs smoothly and efficiently on a daily basis.

Some of Dawn’s responsibilities include sending email notifications to parents, budgeting and ordering for the building, monitoring facility usage, and maintaining school calendars and website content.
 

Rachel Smith has served VanGorden Elementary School since 2016 and is a proud graduate of Lakota Local Schools. Prior to starting at Lakota, she served as a counselor at the elementary and junior high level for several other local school districts. She holds a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Social Work and licensure in School Counseling.

Rachel’s mission is to help students feel successful both academically, socially and emotionally. She provides classroom lessons, small group counseling and short-term individual counseling. Rachel loves partnering with students and families to meet students’ individual needs, and can be reached at rachel.smith@lakotaonline.com.

Michele Toelke has been the Registered Nurse in the VanGorden Clinic since 2012.  Her main goal is to ensure that students are healthy, safe, and able to learn. She is responsible for providing first aid care and health assessment, developing and monitoring care plans, coordinating the care of students with chronic or acute health conditions, communicating with school staff and parents to ensure the safety and well-being of students, administering medications, performing skilled nursing procedures, providing vision and hearing screenings and associated reporting, and educating and training staff on medical conditions and treatment/medication administration.  

Prior to working at Lakota, Michele worked in the hospital setting on a progressive care/step-down unit. Michele, as well as her three children, are proud graduates of Lakota!